Minneapolis-St Paul

Minnesota is known as the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes', and there are plenty of lovely lakes within the Twin Cities for visitors to enjoy in the summers; some of the best are located southwest of downtown Minneapolis.Lake Calhoun has a few sandy beaches with lifeguards on duty, good for sunning, swimming and volleyball, and a few good restaurants. The park offers canoe rentals and sailing lessons, and sailboarding is a popular activity here.Lake of the Isles is a great place for a family picnic, and kids will enjoy the excellent climbing trees in the park. There are no public swimming beaches, however visitors can access the lake on boats rented from the adjacent Lake Calhoun.Lake Harriet has excellent bike and jogging trails around the lake, and an outdoor bandshell that hosts local musicians on weekends. A popular area for families, Lake Harriet has swimming beaches, and a marina with boat rentals.Lake Nokomis also offers a few swimming beaches and boat access. The park is conveniently located near shops along Cedar Avenue, making spur-of-the-moment picnics a fun option.

Located in the southern suburb of Bloomington, the futuristic superstructure of the Mall of America is recognised as the largest enclosed shopping and entertainment complex in the country. It welcomes more than 42 million visitors each year and is the fifth most visited attraction in the USA with world-class shopping, family entertainment, nightlife and numerous dining options. Located conveniently close to the airport, some international tours are specially arranged for holiday shopping!There are more than 500 stores and specialty shops including the Lego Store, international department stores such as Bloomingdales, more than 70 restaurants and fast food outlets, cinemas, theatres and nightclubs, a wedding chapel, bowling alley, and a mini-golf course.Sea Life Minnesota is a massive aquarium with touch pools featuring sharks and stingrays, and glass-enclosed tunnels with moving walkways that go right through the aquarium. The Mall of America's famous centrepiece is Nickelodeon Universe, an indoor theme park with more thirty rides and adventures for children and adults.

Address : 24th Ave S. and Killebrew Drive, Bloomington

Website : www.mallofamerica.com

Telephone : (952) 883-8800

Opening times : Mall open Monday to Saturday 10am-9.30pm, Sunday 11am-7pm. Hours for restaurants, nightclubs and other attractions may vary, as well as summer and holiday hours. Nickelodeon Universe: Monday to Thursday 10am-9.30pm, Friday and Saturday 10am-10pm, Sunday 10.30am-7.30pm. Aquarium: Monday to Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday 10am-8.00pm, Saturday 9.30am-8.00pm, Sunday 10am-6.30pm.

Admission : Admission to Nickelodeon Universe is free, but tickets must be purchased for each ride. An All Day Wristband is $34.99, valid for one day. Aquarium: $24.25 adults, $17.25 children 3-12.

This large museum showcases everything about Minnesota's history, with interactive exhibits ranging from blizzard and tornado simulations to a grainbelt exhibit with slides and a 24-tonne boxcar, and even a Rock n Roll Hall of Fame with Prince's famous purple jumpsuit. Ever-changing temporary exhibits as well as events and lectures mean there is always something new to learn.The museum is family-friendly, with plenty of activities and programmes for kids, including the Museum Theatre and History Players. Conveniently located in downtown St Paul, the Minnesota History Center is a must-visit for anyone interested in learning about the state's fascinating history.

Address : 345 W. Kellogg Boulevard, St Paul

Website : www.minnesotahistorycenter.org

Telephone : (651) 259-3000

Opening times : Tuesday 9am-8pm, Wednesday to Saturday 9am-4pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Admission : $12 adults, $6 children age 5-17; other concessions available. Free admission on Tuesdays 5pm-8pm.

Home to the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball team, Target Field was built in 2010 and is considered one of the most state-of-the-art baseball stadiums in the world. Minnesotans tend to be rather affectionate toward their team, and a day at the ballpark is a fun family activity for Minnesota tourists of all ages; an added bonus is that fans get a picturesque view of the downtown Minneapolis skyline.The stadium itself is beautifully and intricately constructed, and daily tours reveal hidden secrets like the players' locker rooms, clubhouse, and the elaborate underground systems that both heat and irrigate the field.

Address : 1 Twins Way (3rd Ave. N, between 5th St. N and 7th St. N), Minneapolis

Website : minnesota.twins.mlb.com

Telephone : (612) 659-3400

Transport : The Hiawatha Light Rail and Northstar Rail line both have stops at Target Field.

Admission : Tickets range $14-85, depending on section, and are available from the website.

Valleyfair is the largest amusement park in Minnesota, with 125 acres of rides and attractions ranging from high-speed roller coasters to midway games and an IMAX theater. Valleyfair also has the Soak City Waterpark with a range of waterslides and pools, and Challenge Park, which features the RipCord SkyCoaster.The amusement park's most famous ride is the Wild Thing roller coaster, which travels at 74 mph (120kph) with a drop of 196 feet (60 metres). There is also a Berenstein Bears children's play area and a variety of restaurants and food court areas. Open from spring to autumn, Valleyfair hosts ValleySCARE Halloween-themed attractions every October.

Address : 1 Valleyfair Drive, Shakopee

Website : www.valleyfair.com

Telephone : (952) 445-7600

Opening times : Daily June-August, selected days in May, September and October with varying hours. Check the website for specific dates.

Admission : Valleyfair: $52 adults. $19.99 kids less than 48 inches tall; other concessions available. Discounted tickets available from the website.

Internationally renowned for its permanent collection of 20th century paintings, drawings, prints, photography and sculptures, the Walker Art Center is one of the country's leading contemporary art centres and is one of the most visited museums in the USA. It features works by top artists in a range of styles, utilising various multi-media installations and educational programs.Contemporary art can also be experienced here through theatre, dance, video, music and film. Next door is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden with creative contemporary work spread across a huge area of parkland. It is the largest urban sculpture park in the country and includes the colossal Spoonbridge and Cherry Fountain by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, and Frank Gehry's Standing Glass Fish. Visitors can also cross the highway to Loring Park via the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge, and enjoy the poetry written along the walkway.

Address : 1750 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis

Website : www.walkerart.org

Telephone : (612) 375-7600

Opening times : Sculpture Garden: daily 6am to midnight. Galleries: Tuesday to Sunday 11am-5pm, closes 9pm on Thursday.

Admission : $14 adults, concessions available; admission is free on the first Saturday of each month and Thursday evenings from 5pm. The Sculpture Garden is free.